Nobuyo Oyama, the iconic voice behind Doraemon, passed away at the age of 90 on 29 September 2024, due to natural causes. Her agency revealed that she had been in and out of the hospital throughout the year and died peacefully in a Tokyo hospital.

Born in Tokyo, Oyama began her acting career in 1956 with an NHK drama, but it was her role as the voice of Doraemon that cemented her legacy. She voiced the beloved robot cat for 26 years, starting in 1979 when the series first aired on commercial television. Her unique voice played a major role in making Doraemon a global sensation, beloved by fans in Japan and around the world.

Oyama was so dedicated to the role that she turned down all other voice acting offers while portraying Doraemon. However, in 2008, she stepped away from the character after suffering a stroke. In 2015, her late husband disclosed that she had been living with dementia and was receiving care. Despite these challenges, Oyama’s influence on the world of anime remained strong, and her contributions to the industry extended beyond voice acting, as she also wrote, sang, and appeared in live-action projects.

Her passing marks a sombre moment in a year of significant losses for the anime and manga community, following the deaths of Akira Toriyama, Atsuko Tanaka, and Tarako, her successor as Doraemon.